Center-board



'Jqnoouofi.

CENTER BOARD.

(No Model.)

j/atented Apr. 10.1883.

N. PETERS. PhcwLilhographnr. Wuhinlofl, 5.3.

UNITED STATES Fries, I

JAMES E. couch, or CLAYTON, NEW YORK.

CENTER-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,361, dated April 10, 1883.

Application filed December 27, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. GoUcH, of Clayton, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Center-Boards for Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in center-boards for boats, the object of the same being to combine simplicity and economy in construction with durability and efficiency in use; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a boat, showin g the well and center-board in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 shows the relative position of the center-board section and operating-lever when the former are in open position, and Fig. 4 is a detached View of the operating-lever.

A represents a boat; B, the keel thereof, and (J a well or casing open at the bottom, where it communicates with an oblong opening through the keel. This well 0 is preferably made of sheet metal, and is provided with the side and end flanges, by means of which it is secured in position in the boat in any desired manner. 7

The center-board is composed of two or more sections, E E E (three in the presentinstan ce,)

arranged to swing side by side vertically through the keel of the boat. These sections are of such size that when in a closed position they rest up wellin and are protected by the keel B. The several sections E E E of the centerboard are preferably shaped alike, and are pivotally secured within the well, near the front nppercorner thereof, by the pivot-bolt 0. Each section of the center-board is also provided with a slot or opening, f, the size of which varice with the location or positions of the section, and is formed in the arc of a circle, and can be, if desired, separate and distinct from the-slots g, in which the finger of the operating-lever works, as shown on the section E; or

(No model.)

the two slots can be merged together, as shown in the sections E E The slotsf, or the ones nearer the pivot of the center-board sections, are for the passage of the stop-pin H, which latter is adapted to limit the fall or movement of the several sections. This stop H passes through the side walls of the well, and is rigidly held in position thereby, and also passes through the slots f of the several sections. The slot f in the section E is the longest, and the said section, as a consequence, seeks the lowest position. The slotin the next succeeding section, E, is not solong as the onein thepreceding section, which limits the downward movement of the said section, while the slotfin the third section, E is smaller than in the section E.

Thus it will be seen that when the sections are opened, so as to present a broad resisting-surface to the water when desired. These sections are operated simultaneously by the bell-crank operating-lever G, which latter is pivotally se cured to one side of the well 0 by the bolt, which latter, as before stated, also pivotally secures the sections to the well. the lever G projects forwardly, and terminates in a handle, t, by means of which the sections are elevated. The sections are retained in open position by gravity, and when open the handle end of the lever G is in an elevated position. The short arm of the lever G rests'alongside of the-well, and is provided with an inwardly-projecting finger, 7c, which latter moves in an areshaped slot, 1, in one side wall of the well. This finger It also passes through the several sections of the center-board, and, by engagement therewith, lifts the said sections to an elevated position. This finger passes through the slot g of the sections, which are arranged in reverse order from the slots f-that is to say, the slot gin the section E is the smallest, while the slot g in the section E is the largest. As the lever is moved downward the section E moves an equal distance with the finger k, and consequently seeks the lowest position. The slot 9 in the section E is larger than the slot g'in the preceding section, which allows the finger 7a ,to move therein without moving the section E, while the slot gin the section E is still larger,

The long arm h of for the same purpose. As the operating-lever is depressed the section E begins to move simultaneously with the lever, and continues so alone until it reaches the second or middle section, E. The finger k then engages the section and moves it with the section E upward until the third or highest section is reached, when the finger 70 also engages it and moves the three upward until housed within the casing. The handle end of the lever is then in its depressed position, and is retained so by the bail I ,which latter is pivotally secured at its lower end to the well Gin any desired manner. The arc-shaped slot 1 in the wall of the well is covered and protected by the similar-shaped strip, J, which latter is retained in the bearings m, secured to one side wall of the well. The finger it passes through this strip J, and as the finger is moved by the lever the strip also moves simultaneously with it in the same direction, and completely covers the said slot and prevents the ingress of any water into the boat.

A rubber or any suitable packing, n, can, if desired, be interposed between the wall of the well and the strip J, to form a water-tightjoint, and the said strip canbe adjusted by the setscrews 0, which latter pass through the bearings m.

The several sections of the center-board can be made of sheet metal, or thin wood, covered or not with metal, as desired, and any suitable number of sections can be used that will answer the necessary purposes.

My improvement is simple in construction, is durable and effective in use, and can be manufactured at a small initial cost without the aid of costly tools or machinery.

It is evident that slight changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention 5 and hence I would have it understood that I do not limitmyself to the exact construction of parts shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a well or casing and a sectional center-board pivotally secured within said Well, and provided with slots for the passage, respectively, of the stop-pin and finger of the operating-lever, of the stop-pin passing transversely through the several sections, and the bell-crank operating-lever, the rear end of which is provided with a laterallyprojecting finger adapted to en ter slots in center-board sections, and a bail for holding the handle end of the lever in a depressed position, all of the above parts combined and adapted to operate as described.

2. The combination, with the well or casing, provided on one side with a slot formed in the arc of a circle, and the center-board sections, of a bell-crank operating-lever provided with a finger adapted to move'in the arc-shaped slot and engage the several sections of the center-board, and a pivot-pinpassing through the said bell-crank lever, center-board sections, and casings, substantially as described.

- 3. The combination, with the well, centerboard sections, and operatinglever, of the curved strip J, lnovably secured to the side of the well, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a well, centerboard, and an operating-lever provided with a laterally-projecting finger adapted to engage the center-board, ot the strip J, bearings m, and set-screws, all of the above parts combined and adapted to operate as described.

5. The combination, with the well, centerboard sections, operating-lever, and hail, of the bearings m, strip J, and set-screws, all of the above parts constructed, combined, and adapted to operate as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. COUCH. Witnesses:

JAMES HAYES, HAMILTON Boon. 

